Schuylkill County Commissioner Barron “Boots” Hetherington and Robert S. Carl Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, have received a national honor by being named to President Donald Trump’s Export Council.

The White House issued a press release Tuesday with the news indicating Trump announced his intent to nominate and appoint Hetherington and Carl to the council.

Hetherington welcomed the opportunity. He was contacted by the White House in October and told by someone, not Trump, that Congressman Dan Meuser recommended him.

“I said yes. I would be very honored to serve,” Hetherington said.

He had to complete paperwork such as a background check, he said.

Hetherington received a phone call from Washington D.C. but because he was busy working Wednesday had not had the chance to listen to it. He didn’t tell anyone of the possibility because he didn’t believe it was his place to do so. Hetherington called Meuser previously and thanked him for the recommendation.

Hetherington has served on various organizations locally and statewide. He will serve until replaced.

Carl said he is “grateful” for the chance to serve. He thanked Meuser for the recommendation.

“I look forward to working with the President on the Export Council and representing the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and our 730 members. It will be my sincere honor and privilege to serve President Donald J. Trump, on the President’s Export Council,” Carl said in a statement Wednesday.

The council is an advisory committee on international trade. It advises the president of “government policies and programs that affect U.S. trade performance; promotes export expansion; and provides a forum for discussing and resolving trade-related problems among the business, industrial, agricultural, labor and government sectors,” according to the website legacy.trade.gov.

Meetings are held at least twice a year.